The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-08-13


which they all turned and looked at the
view in question. A gentle breeze rustled
among the tops of the beeches in the bos-
ques below them. 1t was spring, and the
trees had not lost their first freshness; their
tender green contrasted with the rude out
lines of the Torres Bermejos, or Red Tow
ers, and the Puerta de las Granadas, the
ancient gateway leading from the bosqucs
to the town. Beyond the gate clustered
the domes and towers of Granada, beside
its two rivers, the Genil and the Darro,
and again beyond spread the plain or Vega,
like brilliant carpet, its tints varying from
deep purple to transparent mauve, with
here and there patches of crimson, orange,
and pale green, stretching away to where
on the horizon the Sierra Nevada shot its
pure and dazzling peaks into the deep blue
sky.
81 will uphold the truth fyour saying"
said Patty, at length. "Where would one
find such wonderful variety of form and
hue more gorgeous colcring, or more ma
jestic outlines than we are looking on
now 2"
Mr., Birley smiled superior.
sYou have neither of you been so much
around as I've, ! guess. I've seen--
But stay, Don Ramon he broke oft, as
the young painter showed signs of moving
off, sYou were showing Miss O'Brian
some of your handiwork as came up.
Mayn't I have look, too ?"
Don Ramon complied with this request
without alacrity. He despised the young
Americans pretentions to criticise works of
art, about which he knew nothing; and it
annoyed him to have to listen while the
other exposed his ignorance, The subject
of the picture about to be inspected was
that Of a gypsy girl leaning against the
marble basin of fountain, Her attitude
/ of abandon showed that she had just ended
one of the wild gypsy dances for which the
Andalusian gitana is celebrated. Her
arms had fallen to her sides, the castanets
still in her palms; her gaudy dress, and the
flowers and gold pins in her hair, stood out
against a somber background.
Mr.. Birley stepped back and frowned
critically.
"Ha Now, that is really nice little
picture. But, excuse me, Don Ramon, IT
/ offer you bit of advice"
Don Ramon turned hastily away from
his selfappointed critic. Not in the least
daunted, Mr. Birley went on:
ssThat girl is well painted-very. 1 con-
slider that quite superior, as painting; but
the subject, now, is very commol-a dirty
gypsy wepch, We Americans like some
thing higher high art is what we so in for,
A Spanish lady in lace mantilla and
satin gown is more the sort Of thing te
please. We like refinement as well as fine
painting"
GAS this picture is not an order, | took
the liberty of choosing my own subject,
said Don Ramon, stifly.
Mr.. Birley's tone of patronage began t.
be more than his Spanish pride collt
stand.
"Why, certainly, sir; but I contend tha
if you wish to get taken up by Americans
You must chQase the sort of subjects sug
geat." =.
"Possibly. But have no such ambi
ton"
"Then you are wrong, sir. The Ameri
cans bring the dollars, and are ready to pa.
up handsomely when they see an articl
worth their money, which is more thai
i y0dr opas.:- .-s.randees ofsea do rseEnn
Mr.. Rirley felt so innocent Of : oa August
tion to offend in making this simple state
ment of facts that he was quite taken abacl
when Don Ramon, instead of replying
flung his papa round him, made forma
bow, and, with SHASTA depues, seuorita,
to Miss O'Brian, stalked out of the garden
'Now you have offended him, Mr.. Bir
ley, said Patty, with pout. "You shoulc
not have interfered; it was my opinion h'
asked, not yours"
"Well, I'm sorry he's vexed; but really
don't see that L said anything offensive
l only gave him the benefit of my advic,
for his own good"
HYou don't understand him. spaniardi
are not always talking about dollars anC
putting money value on everything, ever
works of art"
"And what value would you put oil
them, if not money one? That's the
true test, I take it"
aOh, don't know" said Miss 0'Brlan
pettishly. can artistic one, | suppose
Don Ramon paints for love of his art. -
ale sells his pictures, though, when he
can get any one to buy them, said Mr.. Bir
ley, and, as there was no gainsaying this
Patty did not see her way to fruitful con
tiluance Of the discussion, and declared heI
Intention of going back to the hotel.
Though she had taken Don Ramon's part
to Mr.. Birley, she made up her mind tc
chaff him a little about his majestic exit
when they met at alnuerzo, as the midday
meal is called in Spain. When IL o'clock
came, however, she was disappointed, and
obliged to reserve her wit for another oc.
casion, for Don Ramon did not come in,
and at dinner his place was still vacant
Patty now began to feel cross, for she feared
that Don Ramoa had forgotten, or did not
intend to remember, plan made previous
day for visiting the Alhambra by moon
light. Somehow, as the evening wore on,
the project seemed to lose its charm in her
eyes, and she would have been glad to stay
at home; but Miss Wiekham agreed with
Mr.. Birley that it would be absurd to put
| off their stroll on Don Ramon's account,
who could go just ss well another night By
himself. Patty secretly thought her aunt
encouraged Mr.. Birley too much. He was
getting an atrocious bore, but, as she could
find no good reason to urge against their
decision, she yielded, and they set off,
Passing along in the gloom, between the
tall trunks of the trees in the bosques, they
arrived before the grand old Gate of jus
tice, the principal entrance to the fortress.
The moonlight fell full on the mass of ma
sonry, which is hardly damaged by the pas
sage of centuries; above the horseshoe arch
the symbolical hand and key stand out clear
and distinct, as when the Kadi dispensed
Justice below them in the days of the
Moorish dominion. They were very silent;
the calm beauty of the night checked even
Mr.. Birley's volubility, and hardly word
was spoken as, after passing through the
gate, they walked across the wide deserted
Plaza de los Aljibes, and, arriving at the
entrance to the palace, went in and found
/ Al oolaL.ckoJ Dak.o Ill II,